New Rules for Cost-Sharing Limits Applicable to Non-Grandfathered Plans

On May 26, 2015, the Departments of Labor, Treasury and Health and Human Services (HHS) (the “Departments”), which are responsible for implementing group health plan standards under the Affordable Care Act,1 released new answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) clarifying how non-grandfathered health plans must apply the law’s limitations on cost sharing (also known as the limitations on out-of-pocket maximums).2 Effective with the plan year beginning in 2016, non-grandfathered plans will be required to limit cost sharing to the individual limit ($6,850 in 2016) for each member of a family.

This Update provides background on the cost-sharing limits and summarizes the new guidance.

Background

The Affordable Care Act requires non-grandfathered group health plans to limit the amount that participants (and their families) have to pay out of pocket for in-network essential health benefits.3 For 2015, those limits are $6,600 (individual)/$13,200 (family). For 2016, those limits will increase to $6,850 (individual)/$13,700 (family).

Application of the Cost-Sharing Limitation to Group Health Plans

Effective with the plan year beginning in 2016, non-grandfathered plans will be required to apply the self-only limit ($6,850 in 2016) to each individual member of a family. This means that an individual will never have to pay more than $6,850 (in 2016) in cost sharing for in-network benefits, even if the plan has a family out-of-pocket maximum that has not yet been met. Essentially, plans with a family out-of-pocket maximum higher than $6,850 must “embed” an individual out-of-pocket maximum within the family out-of-pocket maximum. The plan must pay 100 percent for covered in-network benefits as soon as an individual's out-of-pocket costs exceed $6,850, even if the plan has a higher family out-of-pocket maximum.

Those plans that have family out-of-pocket maximums under the self-only limit ($6,850 in 2016) will not face this problem. In addition, many plans already administer out-of-pocket maximums on an individual basis, and will also not have a problem with the new rule. Only those non-grandfathered plans that require that the family meet its out-of-pocket maximum before the plan pays for covered expenses at 100 percent will be affected.

Plan sponsors that offer a Health Savings Account (HSA)-compliant non-grandfathered high-deductible health plan (HDHP) must also review their plans to assure that the out-of-pocket maximum is administered consistently with the new rule.4

Cost-Sharing Limit Illustration

One answer to an FAQ provides an example of how this will work. That example is shown in the table below.

How the Affordable Care Act’s Cost-Sharing Limits Apply in 2016 to a Plan with a $13,000 Out-of-Pocket Maximum for Family Coverage: An Example for a Family of Four

Implications for Plan Sponsors

Plan sponsors of non-grandfathered plans should review with their claims administrator whether the out-of-pocket maximum is applied on an individual or family basis. Plan sponsors should assure that both plan descriptions and operations apply the Affordable Care Act cost-sharing limitations on an individual, not a family basis. Plans that do not currently apply the individual limit to each member of a family should review the financial implications of modifying these practices, and plan to change plan administration and revise plan documents for the plan year beginning in 2016.

Changes should be discussed in the plan’s open enrollment materials (if any) and reflected in the plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC).

1 The Affordable Care Act is the shorthand name for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), Public Law No. 111-48, as modified by the subsequently enacted Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act (HCERA), Public Law No. 111-152.

Update is Sibson Consulting’s electronic newsletter summarizing compliance news. Update is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. It is not intended to provide guidance on current laws or pending legislation. On all issues involving the interpretation or application of laws and regulations, plan sponsors should rely on their attorneys for legal advice.

If you would like additional information about this news, please contact your Sibson consultant or the Sibson office nearest you. Sibson can be retained to work with plan sponsors and their attorneys on compliance issues.